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</table><div align="left"><img src="smallspace.gif" width="20" height="10"><a href="http://capwiz.com/thearc"><img src="ac3.gif" alt="Take Action" border="0"></a> 
</div><p>&nbsp; </p><div align="left"> <p><img src="smallspace.gif" width="10" height="10" border="0"><img src="smallestspace.gif" width="12" height="3"><img src="smallestspace.gif" width="3" height="3"><a href="https://www.applyweb.com/public/contribute?thearc"><img src="donate.gif" alt="Donate" border="0"><img src="smallspace.gif" width="10" height="10" border="0"></a> 
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      <p>&nbsp;</p>
      <h2 align="center">Public Policy</h2>
      <p align="center">The Arc pursues its <a href="http://www.thearc.org/ga/2005goals.pdf">legislative 
        goals</a> by working with the U.S. Congress and the administration to 
        enact laws that improve the lives of children and adults with intellectual 
        and developmental disabilities and their families. The Arc also wants 
        to keep all chapters and members of the association well-informed about 
        national policies that impact the lives of people with intellectual and 
        developmental disabilities. With this information, The Arc exercises its 
        grassroots strength to better the lives of all people with intellectual 
        and developmental disabilities and their families.</p>
      <p align="center">&nbsp;</p>
      <a name="onetoone"></a>
<table width="85%" border="4" bordercolor="#003399" cellpadding="5">
        <tr> 
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            <div align="center"> 
              <p>&nbsp;</p>
              <font color="#FF0000"><b><font size="5" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">HELP 
              US SAVE MEDICAID!</font></b></font><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br>
              <br>
              <b><font size="2">RECRUIT LOCALLY CONNECTED, POLITICALLY ACTIVE 
              <br>
              PEOPLE FOR THE ARC AND UCP <br>
              DISABILITY POLICY COLLABORATION'S<br>
              ONE-TO-ONE NETWORK </font></b></font> 
              <p>Medicaid is the lifeline that provides supports and services 
                to people with disabilities and their families. Over the next 
                few months, the Administration, Congress and our nation's Governors 
                want to reform Medicaid with proposals that will cut that lifeline.</p>
              <p>Here is how you can help find qualified One-to-One Networkers:</p>
            </div>
            <ul>
              <li> 
                <div align="left"><a href="http://www.thearc.org/ppc/onetoone/actionplan.doc">A 
                  Five-Month Call For Action Plan</a><br>
                </div>
              </li>
              <li> 
                <div align="left"><a href="http://www.thearc.org/ppc/onetoone/factsheet.doc">Fact 
                  Sheet about One-To-One Networkers</a></div>
              </li>
              <li> 
                <div align="left"><a href="http://www.thearc.org/ppc/onetoone/medicaidcrisis.doc">Fact 
                  Sheet - The Medicaid Crisis</a></div>
              </li>
              <li> 
                <div align="left"><a href="http://www.thearc.org/ppc/onetoone/statebystate.doc">State 
                  By State</a> - Target Members of the Senate Finance Committee 
                  and House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health</div>
              </li>
              <li> 
                <div align="left"><a href="http://www.thearc.org/ppc/onetoone/talkingpoints.doc">Talking 
                  Points </a>for Conversations With Potential One-To-One Networkers</div>
              </li>
              <li> 
                <div align="left"><a href="http://www.thearc.org/ppc/onetoone/sampleemail.doc">Sample 
                  E-Mail/Letter </a>For Contacting Potential One-To-One Networkers</div>
              </li>
              <li> 
                <div align="left"><a href="http://www.thearc.org/ppc/onetoone/signupform.doc">Sign-Up 
                  Form</a><br>
                </div>
              </li>
            </ul>
            <div align="center"><b><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="4" color="#FF0000">We 
              need new strengths. <br>
              We need new approaches. <br>
              We need your help.</font></b><br>
              <br>
            </div>
          </td>
        </tr>
      </table>
      <p align="center">&nbsp;</p>
      <p align="center"><a href="/ga/majoract.html">Click here to learn about 
        major public policy activities of The Arc</a>.</p>
      <p align="center"><a href="http://www.thearc.org/ppc/capinsider.doc">Click 
        for the latest edition of <i>Capitol Insider</i>. </a> <img src="smallspace.gif" width="10" height="10"><a href="http://www.thearc.org/ppc/archive/ciarchive.htm"><i><font size="2">(Back 
        Issues)</font></i></a></p>
      <p align="center"><a href="http://www.thearc.org/ppc/ww.doc">Click here 
        for the latest regular edition of <i>Washington Watch</i>.</a><img src="smallspace.gif" width="10" height="10"><a href="http://www.thearc.org/ppc/archive/wwarchive.htm"><i><font size="2">(Back 
        Issues)</font></i></a></p>
      <p align="center"><a href="http://www.thearc.org/ppc/wwspecial.doc">Also 
        see this special edition of Washington Watch</a></p>
      <p align="center"><a href="http://www.thearc.org/ga/mmdc.pdf">Click here 
        for the latest edition of The Arc/National Down Syndrome Society publication, 
        <i>Monday Morning in Washington, DC.</i> </a></p>
      <div align="left"></div>
      <form method="get" action="http://capwiz.com/stickers/" onsubmit="return verify(this);">
        <div align="center"></div>
      </form>
      <h1 align="center">&nbsp;</h1>
      <h1 align="center">Public Policy News from The Arc</h1>
      <p align="center"><b><img src="http://www.thearc.org/yellowdot2.png" width="17" height="17" alt="Bullet Point Graphic"></b> 
        The 2007 Seminar fact sheets and talking points on priority disability 
        policy issues are available. <a href="http://www.thearc.org/ppc/Facts2007.htm">Click 
        here for an index</a> of issues and to download your copies.</p>
      <p align="center"><b><img src="http://www.thearc.org/yellowdot2.png" width="17" height="17" alt="Bullet Point Graphic"></b>On 
        August 16, 2006, DPC Staff Director Paul Marchand gave a presentation 
        to the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Advisory Panel, urging them 
        to adopt a &#147;do no harm&#148; principle when promoting employment 
        among Title II and SSI disability beneficiaries as well suggesting improvements 
        to the Social Security program to maximize potential work of people with 
        disabilities. <a href="Presentation%20to%20the%20Ticket%20Panel%20August%202006.doc">Click 
        here for a copy of his presentation</a>.</p>
      <p></p>
      <p align="center"><b><img src="http://www.thearc.org/yellowdot2.png" width="17" height="17" alt="Bullet Point Graphic"></b> 
        Application To Become A Red Cross Community Relations Liaison, Disaster 
        Services Human Resources (DSHR) program. Employees and volunteers can 
        be trained and deployed to serve during emergencies and disasters. <a href="ga/Red%20Cross-%20Community%20Relations%20Application%20Form.doc">Click 
        here</a> to download the application.</p>
      <p> <b><img src="http://www.thearc.org/yellowdot2.png" width="17" height="17" alt="Bullet Point Graphic"></b> 
        DPC Staff Director Paul Marchand testified before the Interagency Committee 
        on Disability Research, providing the committee with direction for its 
        federal disability research agenda. Among his many recommendations, Marchand 
        urged the committee to increase federal funding for research and better 
        disseminate results to the disability community. <a href="ga/ICDR%20TestimonyMay232006.doc">Click 
        here</a> to read his complete testimony.</p>
      <p align="center">Nearly 500 people participated in the 2006 Disability 
        Policy Seminar (February 6-8). The sessions were a huge success and were 
        capped off by a compelling presentation on the Federal Budget by the Center 
        for Budget and Policy Priorities&#146; Ellen Nissenbaum during the closing 
        wrap-up session. </p>
      <p><b><img src="http://www.thearc.org/yellowdot2.png" width="17" height="17" alt="Bullet Point Graphic"></b> 
        Ellen&#146;s PowerPoint Presentation is now available. For a copy, <a href="http://www.thearc.org/ga/FederalBudgetPresentation.ppt">click 
        here </a></p>
      <p></p>
      <p><b><img src="http://www.thearc.org/yellowdot2.png" width="17" height="17" alt="Bullet Point Graphic"></b> 
        <a href="http://www.thearc.org/Seminarphotos.htm">Click here</a> for pictures 
        taken at the seminar and while advocates were visiting Members of Congress 
        on Capitol Hill.<br>
        <br>
      </p>
      <h2 align="center">&nbsp;</h2>
      <h2 align="center">Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (DRA), P.L. 109-171 </h2>
      <h2 align="center">Effective Dates of Selected Sections</h2>
      <p>The Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, which was signed into law on February 
        8, 2006, has a number of provisions that will significantly affect the 
        lives of people with disabilities and their families. For a chart of the 
        key sections in order of their effective dates and a timeline of selected 
        sections, <a href="http://www.thearc.org/ga/DRATimeline3.23.06.doc">click 
        here</a>. For more details about each provision, <a href="http://www.thearc.org/ga/DeficitReductionActof20053.23.06.doc">click 
        here</a> for the companion summary.</p>
      <p></p>
      <p align="left">&nbsp; </p>
      <p align="left">PDF versions of The Arc's<a href="http://www.thearc.org/ga/2005goals.pdf"> 
        2005 legislative goals</a> and <a href="http://www.thearc.org/ga/2005goalsbrochure.pdf">legislative 
        goals brochure</a> are available online. </p>
      <p align="left">Copies of fact sheets on priority issues distributed at 
        the recent Public Policy Seminar are <a href="http://www.thearc.org/ga/facts/">now 
        available online. </a><br>
      </p>
      <p align="left">Voting/Election Reform -- <a href="http://www.thearc.org/ppc/voting2.doc">Provisional 
        Balloting Ensures Every Voter's Vote is Counted</a></p>
      <p align="left">The Arc of the United States Submits Comments to U.S. Election 
        Assistance Committion on Computerized Voting. <a href="http://www.thearc.org/ppc/voting.doc">The 
        text is available online</a></p>
      <p align="left"><a href="http://www.thearc.org/ppc/sacghscomments.doc">United 
        Cerebral Palsy and The Arc submitted comments to the Secretary&#146;s 
        Advisory Committee on Genetics, Health, and Society (SACGHS) in preparation 
        for an October 18, 2004 hearing on Genetic Discrimination.</a> The SACGHS 
        is attempting to raise awareness about the problem of genetic discrimination 
        and to gather information about the scope and nature of genetic discrimination 
        to encourage Congress to act. President Bush has called for federal legislation 
        to prohibit genetic discrimination in health insurance and employment. 
        In October 2003, the Senate unanimously passed the Genetic Information 
        Nondiscrimination Act, and advocates are still pressing for action in 
        the House of Representatives. In July 2004, the House Subcommittee on 
        Employer-Employee Relations of the Committee on Education and the Workforce 
        held a hearing on the issue. Yet, despite broad bipartisan support for 
        the legislation, further progress in the House remains stalled. <br>
        <b> </b> </p>
      <p>The Arc's President reacts to Supreme Court ruling on death penalty cases 
        - <a href="http://www.thearc.org/misc/atkinsrelease.doc"></a><b><a href="http://www.thearc.org/misc/atkinsrelease.doc">news 
        release available online</a>. </b><a href="http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/20jun20021230/www.supremecourtus.gov/opinions/01pdf/00-8452.pdf">The 
        text of the court's ruling is also available in pdf format. </a><br>
        <br>
        <br>
      </p>
      <h2 align="center"><a href="HTTP://www.c-c-d.org/going_alone.htm"> </a>Education</h2>
      <p align="center">&nbsp;</p>
      <p align="center"><b>IDEA Proposed Regulation Comments Due After Labor Day. 
        Call For Special Ed Advocates To Submit Comments </b>- The Individuals 
        with Disabilities Education Act serves almost seven million children with 
        disabilities, providing them with a free, appropriate public education 
        in the least restrictive environment. Now, the U.S. Department of Education 
        published proposed rules to implement this law on June 21, 2005 with a 
        75-day comment period and comments are due on September 6, 2005. The Arc 
        and the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities have submitted comments 
        and we need state executives, local chapter directors, parents, family 
        members and others to submit comments on the proposed regulations. <br>
        <br>
        For instructions on submitting comments, click here to view the <a href="http://capwiz.com/thearc/issues/alert/?alertid=7959371&type=CU">The 
        Arc's Action Alert</a>. For an example of The Arc's comments on the proposed 
        IDEA regulations, <a href="http://www.thearc.org/misc/idearulescomments0805.pdf" target="_blank">click 
        here</a> . For more detailed comments, you can view the CCD's comments 
        <a href="http://www.thearc.org/misc/ccdcomments0805.pdf" target="_blank">by clicking here</a>.<b><br>
        </b></p>
      <p align="center">&nbsp;</p>
      <p align="center"><b><br>
        </b></p>
      <p></p>
      <p align="center">Twenty-eight organizations of the Consortium for Citizens 
        with Disabilities (CCD), including The Arc of the United States and United 
        Cerebral Palsy, are seriously concerned about the new two-percent policy 
        under No Child Left Behind (NCLB) for assessing certain special education 
        students. The CCD expressed its concern in a letter issued to Education 
        Secretary Margaret Spellings and requested a meeting with the Secretary 
        in anticipation of a proposed rulemaking on this policy.<a href="http://www.thearc.org/misc/twopercent.doc"> 
        For a copy of the letter and the document outlining the CCD's concerns 
        and requests, please click here.</a><br>
      </p>
      <p align="center">&nbsp;</p>
      <p align="center"><br>
      </p>
      <h2 align="center">Housing</h2>
      <p align="center"><a href="http://www.c-c-d.org/POin2000.html">Priced out 
        in 2002 - The Crisis Continues</a>, shows that people with disabilities 
        are among the poorest of the poor and need acces to federal rental subsidies 
        to help them live in the community. (Note: this link takes you to the 
        Opening Doors web page). </p>
      <p align="center"><a href="HTTP://www.c-c-d.org/going_alone.htm">Going It 
        Alone: The Struggle to Expand Housing Opportunities for People with Disabilities</a>. 
        Also available in <a href="HTTP://www.c-c-d.org/going_alone.pdf">PDF format</a>. 
        The Arc is a leader of the CCD Housing Task Force and Opening Doors Initiative 
        that produced this report. </p>
      <p align="center">CCD Housing Task Force <a href="http://www.c-c-d.org/504_complaint.htm">Section 
        504 complaint</a> filed with the Dept. of Housing and Urban Development 
      </p>
      <p>&nbsp;</p>
      <h2>Issue Papers<br>
      </h2>
      <p>Issue Paper: <a href="http://www.thearc.org/ppc/accessingtheport.doc">&quot;Accessing 
        the Pork: How to Secure Federal Dollars Through an Appropriations Earmark&quot;</a><br>
        <b><br>
        </b></p>
      <p><br>
      </p>
      <h2 align="center">Medicaid and Medicare</h2>
      <p align="left">The new Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization 
        Act of 2003 (known as the MMA) will have significant implications for 
        Medicare beneficiaries with developmental disabilities, especially dual-eligibles 
        (those who receive Medicare and Medicaid benefits). <a href="http://www.thearc.org/ppc/medicarecomments.doc">The 
        Arc recently submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid 
        Services (CMS) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) 
        on the proposed regulations</a> to implement this new law. The Arc expressed 
        serious concerns that the proposed regulations fall short of protecting 
        the health and safety of individuals with developmental disabilities and 
        urged CMS to make significant changes before issuing the final regulations.</p>
      <p align="left">The new Medicare prescription drug benefit, which becomes 
        effective on January 1, 2006, will be very important for Medicare beneficiaries 
        with disabilities and people with disabilities who are &quot;dual-eligibles&quot; 
        (i.e. who receive both Medicare and Medicaid benefits). Public comments 
        were sought on the draft Model Guidelines. <a href="http://www.thearc.org/ppc/uspcomments.doc">The 
        Arc and UCP Disability Policy Collaboration submitted a letter to focus 
        attention on the prescription drug needs of people with developmental 
        disabilities.</a></p>
      <p align="left">&nbsp;</p>
      <h2 align="center">Social Security</h2>
      <p align="left"><a href="http://www.thearc.org/news/socialsecurityconcerns.doc"><font color="#FF0000"><b>The 
        Arc and United Cerebral Palsy concerned by Chairman Thomas' idea to dismantle 
        Social Security.</b></font><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" color="#FF0000"><b> 
        </b></font></a></p>
      <p align="left">DPC's Marty Ford <a href="http://waysandmeans.house.gov/hearings.asp?formmode=view&id=2659">Testifies 
        Before House Ways &amp; Means Subcommittee</a> on Social Security Discusses 
        Changes to Social Security and Impact on People with Disabilities.</p>
      <p align="left"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><a href="http://www.thearc.org/news/apr29socialsecurity.doc">Pres. 
        Bush's Social Security Remarks Highlight Critical Distinction For People 
        with Disabilities</a></b></font></p>
      <p align="left">&nbsp;</p>
      <h2 align="center">Important Links</h2>
      <p><a href="http://capwiz.com/thearc">The Arc Legislative Action Center</a> 
        - Sign up to receive news and action alerts; locate and email your members 
        of Congress; and contact federal agencies and congressional committees 
        at this site.</p>
      <p><B><A HREF="http://www.disabilitypolicycenter.org">The Center for the 
        Study and Advancement of Disability Policy (CSADP)</A> - </B>A new online 
        resource, the center provides public education, leadership development 
        and training, technical assistance and information and conducts action-research 
        and analysis of public policy issues affecting individuals with disabilities 
        and their families.<B><BR>
        <BR>
        </B></p>
      <p><a href="http://www.thearc.org/ga/trainmat.html">Effective Advocacy</a> 
        - Tools on how to advocate for yourself and others.</p>
      <p><a href="media-kit.htm">The Arc's Media Kit</a> includes reports, testimony, 
        press releases and letters from the Governmental Affairs Office. </p>
      <p><a href="http://www.c-c-d.org">Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities</a></p>
      <p>- A national coalition of approximately 100 national disability organizations. 
      </p>
      <p><a href="HTTP://www.c-c-d.org/doors.html">Opening Doors</a></p>
      <p>- A housing initiative for people with disabilities and their advocates. 
      </p>
      <p><a href="HTTP://thomas.loc.gov">Thomas</a>, the Library of Congress on-line, 
        to search bills by topic, bill number or title; search through Congressional 
        Records; and find committee reports. Or locate The Arc's key legislative 
        issues in the <a href="http://capwiz.com/thearc">Action Center</a></p>
      <ul>
        <blockquote> 
          <p>Federal departments and administrative agencies important to people 
            with mental retardation: </p>
          <blockquote> 
            <p><b><a href="http://www.cms.hhs.gov/default.asp">CMS - Centers for 
              Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services</a></b></p>
            <p><a href="HTTP://www.hud.gov">HUD - Housing and Urban Development</a> 
            </p>
            <p><a href="http://www.hhs.gov">HHS - Department of Health and Human 
              Services </a> </p>
            <p><a href="HTTP://www.ed.gov/offices/OSERS/">OSERS (DOE) - Department 
              of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services</a> 
            </p>
            <p><a href="http://www.dol.gov">DOL - Department of Labor</a> </p>
            <p><a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/">The White House </a></p>
          </blockquote>
        </blockquote>
      </ul>
      <div align="center"> <br>
        <b><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">For information on The Arc's 
        public policy initiatives, contact:</font></b><br>
        <br>
        <font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>The Disability Policy Collaboration<br>
        1660 L Street, NW, Suite 701<br>
        Washington, DC 20036<br>
        (202) 783-2229<br>
        (202) 783-8250 - Fax<br>
        info@thedpc.org</b></font><br>
      </div>
    </td>
  </tr> 
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			   >Discussion Board</a> | <a href="contact.htm"   >Contact 
Us</a> <br> <font face="Arial" size="1">&copy;1999-2002 The Arc &middot; <a href="mailto:info@thearc.org"   >info@thearc.org</a> 
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